Safety wash tank



March 9, 1943. w. A. LEBUS" I 2,313Q35O SAFETY WASH TANK File May 24, 1940 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 SAFETY WASH TANK William A. 'Lebus, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Protectoseal Company of America, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 24, 1940, Serial No. 336,990

Claims.

This invention relates to wash tanks or receptacles, and particularly to the arrangemnt of closure means for such tanks or receptacles when used for volatile fluids in which articles may be dipped or submerged, and thereby subjected to the cleansing properties of the fluids.

One object of the present invention is to provide a tank for volatile fluids with improved, novel and eflicient means automatically operable to quickly close the tank and stop combustion in the event of ignition of the fluid contents of the tank by accident or otherwise.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for releasably retaining the cover or closure of the tank in either open or closed position under normal conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement embodying heat responsive means operatively related to the retaining means and operable to render the latter ineifective to retain the tank closure in open position in the event of ignition of the fluid contents of the tank.

'A further object of the invention is to provide a quick acting fusible connection between the cover and retaining means, and which when broken will permit the cover to close the tank.

A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

On embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a wash tank and cover therefor, embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 and taken substantially as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 as viewed from the inside of the cover portion thereof; and s Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional plan view of a portion ofthe structure illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and taken substantially as indicated by the to subject them to the cleansing properties of the fluid therein, the basket 6 being provided with handles 1 adapted to rest on suitable supports 8 mounted on the inner side of the tank 5 for permitting the basket and contents thereof to drain.

Mounted on one of the outer sides of the tank 5 is a stop 9, and pivotally mounted on the tank adjacent the stop, by means of a hinged bracket I l and pintle pin I2, is a cover or closure member indicated, as a whole, by the numeral l3 adapted to engage the stop 9, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, when the cover is in open position.

It will benoted that when the cover I3 is in open position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the greater portion of the cover is positioned on the side toward the body of the tank from a vertical line extending through thehinge pintle I2, in

such a manner that when the cover is released from its open position, the weight of the cover will cause it to swing toward the tank and over the upper open portion thereof.

For controlling the position of the cover IS with respect to the tank 5, and as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and .3, a guide bracket indicated, as a whole, by the numeral {4 is rigidly secured to the inner side of the cover l3 by means of rivets I5, and as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, the bracket I s is of shallow, substantially U-shaped cross section, having laterally extending, oppositely disposed flanges l 6 formed thereon and spaced from the inner face of the cover l3. Mounted on the bracket [4 adjacent the upper portion thereof is an inwardly extending stud I! having a transverse aperture formed therein adapted to receive suitable retaining means, such, for example, as a cotter pin [8 or the like. I

Slidably mounted on the bracket l4 adjacent the inner side of the cover I3 is an elongated, substantially U-shaped member indicated, as a whole, by the numeral i9, having a laterally extending bight portion 2| adjacent its lower or inner end, and provided with spaced vertically extending substantially parallel leg portionsZA adapted to straddle the'br acket l4 between the flanges I6 thereof and theadjacent inner face of the cover (3, the upperends oi the leg portions 22 being provided with a head indicated, as a whole, by the numeral 23 having parallel sleeve portions 24 provided with recesses 25 formedtherein adapted to receive'the upper ends of the leg portions 22 of the member I9, and rigidly secured to the head 23 between the lug portions 24 is a stud 26 having alaterally extending aperture formed therein adapted to receive suitable retaining means as for example, a cotter pin 21.

Pivotally connected to the bight portion 2| of Y For placing and maintaining the spring 28 under compression as illustrated by full lines in Fig. 2, the slidable member I9 is retracted, and a fusible link indicated, as a whole, by the numeral 33, is provided adjacent its end portions,

with apertures 34 adapted, to receive the studs l"! and 26, respectively, and retained thereon against accidental displacement with respect thereto by means of cotter pins l8 and 21.

The link 33 is shown, in the present instance, as comprising oppositely disposed end elements or portions 35 overlapping each other intermediate the studs IT and 26, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, and the elements 35 are secured together at their overlapping portions by means of a fusible metal indicated at 36, having a low melting point, adapted to fuse with the initial heat of combustion upon ignition of the fluid content in the tank.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2, that when the fusible link 33 is in position to connect the studs I1 and 26, the spring 28 is under compression, as illustrated by full lines in Fig. 2, and the b-ight portion 2| is at one side of the line A-B extending through the hinge pintle and the spring-and-tank connection adjacent the upper edge of the tank, thereby providing a structure whereby the cover I3 will be yieldingly retained in open position against the stop 9, and that when the bight portion 2| is positioned at the opposite side of the line AB, the relationship of the spring connection with reference to the pintle I2, will serve to move the cover I3 toward its closed position as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines of Fig. 2.

It will be noted also that with the spring 28' under compression, as illustrated by full lines in Fig. 2, a constant strain is exerted on the link 33 tendingto separate the studs I'I and26, and also the end portions 35 of the link.

By such an arrangement, it. will be apparent that upon fusing or melting of the metal 36, a quick separation of the'portions 35 of the link will occur and permit the bight portion 2| of member I9 and the end portion of the. spring 28 connected thereto, to 'assuniethe dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, thereby rendering the spring ineffective to retain the cover I3 in open tions, be retained in either open or closed position, and wherein novel means are provided for automatically closing the cover in the event of ignition of the fluid contents of the tank.

Furthermore, that the present invention provides a quick acting fusible connection between the cover and the retaining means, which when broken will permit the cover to close by gravity. Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be variously modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described and in combination, a tank, a cover hingedly connected position and permit the coverto move by gravity into tank closing position, thereby excluding oxygen from the'tank and stopping combustion of the fluid contents thereof. Thereafter, in order to placethe devicein condition for further use, it is only necessary to move the head 23 and -rnember I9 inwardly toward the hinge side of the cover against the action of the spring 28, and by replacing the-link33 with a newlink, th device may be continued in use until such time as .the fusible metal of the link is again melted to render the spring] 28 inoperative and permit the cover to close.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention providesa novel construction and arrangement 'whereby'the' cover or closure of the tank may, under normal condithereto, a stop for said cover when in open position, a brackethaving a stud thereon secured to said cover, an elongated member slidably mounted on'said bracket, said member having a laterally bent portion adjacent one end thereof and a head adjacent its opposite end portion, a stud on said head, a substantially arcuate shaped compressively stressed spring pivotally connected at one of its ends to the laterally bentportion of said member and at its opposite end pivotally connected to said tank, and a fusible link connecting said studs for releasably securing said elongated member in retracted position and to retain the stress in said spring, for all positions of the cover with said link intact.

2. In a device of the class described and in combination, a tank, a cover hingedly connected thereto, a stop for said cover when in open position, a guide bracket of shallow substantially U -shaped cross section secured to said cover, a stud on said bracket, an elongated U-shaped member having leg portions adapted to straddle said bracket, a head having a laterally extending stud thereon and secured to the free ends of said leg portions, a compressively stressed spring having its respective end portions connected to said tank and the bight portion of said elongated U-shaped member, and a fusible link connecting said studs and adapted toretain said" spring under stres's for normauymoming said cover yieldingly in open position. v g

3. In a device oflthe classdescribedand-in combination, a tank, a coverhingedly. connected thereto, a stop for said cover whenin open position, a guide bracket of shallow substantially U-shaped cross section secured to theinner side of said cover, said bracketihaving l'aterally.'e tending oppositely disposed flange portions spaced fromthe. cover,lastud onsaid, bracket, an elongated U-shaped' member having. leg'portions adapted to straddle said bracket between said flange portions and said cover, aheadhaV- ing a laterally extending stud thereon and secured to the free ends of said leg portions, a. flat substantially arcuate. compressively stressed spring having its respective end porti'onsYconnected' to said tank arid thefbight portion of .said elongated U-shaped member, and a fusibl'e'link connecting said studs and adapted to retainsaid spring under. compression for normally holding said cover yieldinglydn'op'n position.

4. In a. devicewofjthe class described and: in combination, atank, a cover hingedly'conne'ctedthereto, a, stop .on said tank-'adapted-e'to belcha'ged by said-coverwhenin-ofien position, an elongated guide bracket-offshallow.substantially U-shaped'cross section se'curedto' the inner'side of said cover, said bracket having laterally extending elongated flange portions spaced from the cover, a laterally extending stud on said bracket, an elongated U-shaped member having leg portions adapted to straddle said bracket between the flange portions thereof and said cover, a head having a laterally extending stud thereon and secured to the free ends of said leg portions, a substantially arcuate compressively stressed spring having its respective end portions connected to said tank and to the bight portion of said elongated U-shaped member, and a link connecting said studs for retaining said spring under compression for yieldingly holding the cover in open position, said link comprising a pair of rigid end portions adapted to overlap each other, and a fusible metal having a low melting point for securing said link portions together.

5. In a device of the class described, and in combination, a container membena cover member therefor, a resilient element for yieldingly holding said cover member in open position, one end of which is pivotally carried by one of said members, the opposite end of said element being movable relative to the other member, and a fusible link operatively connecting the latter member and the adjacent end of said element to normally maintain said end in laterally fixed relation to such member while permitting pivotal movement relative thereto, and normally maintain said element under compression.

WILLIAM A. LEBUS. 

